Displaying device



Oct. 29, 1935 J. A. BALDWIN 2,019,334

DISPLAYING DEVICE Filed May 29, 1934 ;5 27 Giigf INVENTOR JizmesflBaldwbn WWW WM ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STTES ATENT OFFHCE This invention relates to a device for advantageously displaying goods or commodities, such a s co'okies and the like, packed inlayers in display receptacles or cartons which come in a standard 6 The cartons which are delivered to retail merchants are made of cardboard, and each includes a removable cover. Each carton contains a separate cardboard base on which the cookies are placed in layers. There are two ribbons or strips of cellophane which are gummed to the base inparallel relation to each other, and pass upwardly betweeh the carton and the cookies, and H o ersee; topof the latter, where they are tied, 1'5 complete the packaging of the cookies, before the coveris applied.

Metal covers, to take the place of the cardboard covers" of the cartons, are sold at a nominal cost to the merchants. These metalcovers are used on the cardboard receptacles or the cartons which areplaced in racks for display purposes. Each metalcoverhas' a ni o vable closure element with al nspgrm or glass panel so that the contents of the receptacle may be viewed by thecustomers, 5 and also to exclude air and dust, and to keep the contents moist and in a fresh state. The covers also: have a panel with the name of the manufacturers thereon for advertising purposes.

, Hitherto, after portionsor one or more layers of stori s have been removed from a carton, it was diflieult for a prospective customer to observe the contents. Furthermore, the partly full cargives to' such customer the impression that the contents is not fresh, thereby discouraging a purchase.

I therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a device in the form of an appliance applieable for use in conjunction cartons of the indicated character, to enable a merchant or storekeeper to raise the contents of the carton progressively, as may be desired, and according to the amountsremoved therefrom from time to time, and thereby increase the visibil-ity of the contents, and. make the cartonappear full at all times, while keeping an appearance of a full fresh carton.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the inventionwill appear from the embodiment 56 thereof, which by way 6f example is described in the following specification, defined as to scope the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which 1 is a central vertical section showing 55 the device of the present invention applied to a carton, the latter being partly full of cookies, which are held elevated; V

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

but showing the carton with a full quantity of w" "5 cookies; v

Fig. 31s a plan view;

Fig. 4 is a rear view;

5 is an enlarged detail view; c

Fig. 6 is a horizontal fragmentary section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; in

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view;

Big. 8 is a section of a carton package. Referring now to the drawing it will be apparent that there is shown, in Fig. 8, a carton l0 containing cookies, biscuits, or the like I I, with which thedevice of the present invention is employed. The carton is constructed of cardboard and is of rectangular construction, or square, and has a removable cover l2. The cookies or biscuits are arranged in layers, and are support- 20 ed by a base [3 in the form of a tray arranged within the carton 10. There are two ribbons or strips J4 of flexible material, such as cellophane, which are secured or gummed to the base IS in spaced parallel relation to each other and 26 pass upwardly between, the carton and the cookies, and over the top of the latter where they are tied to complete, the package of the cookies before the cover l2 is applied. This is a standard package or carton of goods or merchandise as de- 30' livered to merchants for display in a rack. In order to adapt the carton for use in conjunction with the device of the present invention, the car ton will be further altered by the provision of H notches IS in opposite side walls thereof so that 35 the notches in one wall Will be in transverse alignment with those in the opposite wall respectively.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a device in the form of an appliance which 41) is adapted to fit on the open top of the carton l0 after the cover 12 has been removed. The device includes a metal rectangular frame 5 which fits around the upper end of the carton Ill and has a top flange ll which rests on the upper edges of 45 the carton. A closure element i8 is hingedly connected with the flange ll as at IS. The closure element l8 has a panel 29 of glass or other suitable transparent material, andalso has a panel 2| with, v the name of the manufacturer thereon for advertising purposes. The closure 88 may be swung to an open position to afford access to the interior of the carton for the removal of the desired quantitles of the contents, and the closure element l8 7 may be moved to the closed position to exclude air and dust and to keep the contents of the carton moist and in a fresh state. The panel 20 makes it possible for a prospective customer to view the contents of the carton II], as will be understood. Winding elements 22 in the form of shafts or rods are supported for rotation by the frame I6 so as to be disposed respectively at opposite sides of the carton ID.

The frame It has bearing blocks 23 which aid the frame IS in supporting the elements 22 and these blocks 23 are received respectively in the notches I5 hereinabovc referred to. It will be understood that the notches I5 make it possible to arrange the frame It on the upper open end of the carton It with the winding elements 22 disposed below the upper edge of the carton. Each of the winding elements 22 has a spring clip or equivalent means 25 arranged intermediate the ends thereof, preferably midway between the ends, for a purpose to appear.

Means is provided for causing the elements 22 to rotate to produce a winding action. This means consists of a gear 25 loosely mounted on one end of each of the elements 22. A rack 26 meshes with each of the gears 25 and the upper end of one rack is connected with the upper end of the other rack by a cross bar 21 which serves as a handle. Each rack 26 has up and down movement in a guide 28 secured to the frame I6. Each element 22, adjacent the gear 25, has secured or keyed thereto a ratchet wheel 29. A detent 30 carried by the gear 25 cooperates with the ratchet wheel 29, and a spring 32 carried by the gear 25 acts on the detent 30 to cause it to cooperate with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 29. The provision and arrangement of the ratchet wheels 29, detents 30, and springs 3i are such that when the racks 26 are moved upwardly by exerting an upward pull on the handle 27, the left-hand winding element 22 will be rotate-d counterclockwise while the right-hand winding element 22 will be rotated clockwise, and when the racks 26 are moved downwardly the gears 25 will rotate freely on the elements 22, as the detents 3E! ratchet over the teeth of the ratchet wheels 29. Thus it will be possible to return the racks 26 to a normally down position after causing a winding operation of the elements 22. In order to prevent a reverse rotation or unwinding operation of the elements 22, there is provided means consisting of a ratchet wheel 32 secured or keyed to each of the elements 22 on the end thereof opposite that having the gear 25. A detent 33 carried by the adjacent bearing block 23 cooperates with the ratchet wheel 32, and a spring 34 carried by said block 23 acts on the detent 355 to resiliently maintain the detent 33 in cooperative engagement with the ratchet wheel 32.

In order to employ the device hereinbefore described, to attain the objects of the invention, the cover I2 of a carton I0 is removed. The ribbons or strips I4 are then untied. The device is then applied to the upper open end of the carton, and the free ends of the ribbons or strips I 4 at the right side are engaged with the spring clip 22 of the right-hand element 22, and the free ends of the ribbons or strips I4 at the left side of the carton are engaged with the spring clip of the lefthand element 22, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. A desired quantityof the cookies I I may be removed from the carton by opening the closure element I8. In order to increase the visibility of I the contents of the cart-on after a quantity thereof has been removed, the merchant or storekeeper may grip the bar 21 and then pull upward on the same, thereby causing the racks 26 to rotate the gears 25, causing the winding operation of the elements 22, through the intervention of the detents 30 and the ratchet wheels 29. The ribbons or strips I 4 will be wrapped or wound spirally on the elements 22, and said ribbons or strips I4 being secured to the base I3, will elevate the latter, together with the remainder of the cookies carried by the base I3, to bring the uppermost layer of cookies I I at or near the top of the carton III. The racks 26 may then be returned or lowered to their 1 down position by pressing downwardly on the cross bar 27, since the gears 25 are free to rotate on the elements 22, while the detents 33 in engagement with certain teeth of the ratchet wheels 32 prevent reverse rotation or unwinding operation 1 of the elements 22, to thus maintain the cookies in the elevated position to which they have been previously moved. Therefore, it will be understood that a merchant or storekeeper may raise the contents of the carton progressively as may 2 be desired and according to the amounts removed therefrom from time to time, and thereby maintain the desired clear visibility of the contents of the carton, and make the cart-on appear full at all times while keeping an appearance of a full 2 fresh carton. After the carton has been emptied of its contents, the ribbons or strips I4 may be readily unwound from the elements 22 by disengaging the free ends of the ribbons or strips I4 from the spring clips 24. Therefore it will be obvious that the device may be used over and over again.

It is to be understood that the device embodying the features of the present invention may be made so as to be applicable to cartons of various 3 sizes and shapes within the spirit of the invention. It is also to be understood that the invention resides in the device constituting an appliance per se, and also resides in the device applied to a carton, container, or receptacle containing goods and merchandise other than cookies or biscuits, and in those cases wherein it is required to increase the visibility of the contents of a container, carton, or receptacle, and to give the appearance that the same is full. 45

having elevating means operable to elevate the merchandise remaining in the receptacle after removal of a portion thereof, to bring the uppermost portion of the remainder at or near the top of the receptacle, said means including a member 5 on which the merchandise rests which carries it upwardly, winding elements at opposite sides of the receptacle, gears loose on said elements, movable racks meshing with said gears to operate them, ratchets which cooperate with said elements 6 and gears, to cause the winding operation of the former in response to the operation of the latter, a handle connected with the racks to operate them, and flexible suspension members engaged with said first member and connected with said wind- 65 tacle, means to cause the operation of said ele- 75 ments to produce a winding action thereof, a support on which the merchandise rests, flexible suspension members engaged with said winding elements and said support to elevate the latter to various positions in response to the winding operation of said elements, and additional means to prevent the unwinding operation of said elements.

3. An appliance for elevating merchandise arranged in an open top receptacle and for closing the receptacle and displaying the merchandise, including a frame which fits on the top of the receptacle, winding elements carried by said frame and positioned so as to be disposed at opposite sides of the receptacle, gears loose on said elements, movable racks on the frame meshing with said gears to operate them, ratchets which cooperate with said winding elements and gears, to cause the winding operation of the former in response to the operation of the latter, a handle connected withsaidracks to operate them, a carrying member on which the merchandise rests, flexible suspensioii members engaged with said winding elements and the carrying member to elevate said member to various positions in response to the winding operation of said elements, and means to prevent the unwinding operation of said elements to retain said carrying member in the elevated positions.

4. An appliance for elevating merchandise arranged in an open top receptacle, including a. carrying member on which the merchandise rests, means operable to elevate the carrying member to various levels, said means-including a cooperative gear and ratchet, and a manually operable rack element which is movable upwardly to operate said gear to operate said means to cause the elevation of the carrying member to the desired level, said element being returnable to its original down position without disturbing the carrying member by reason of said ratchet; and means cooperating with the first means to retain the carrying member in the elevated position.

5. A device comprising a receptacle for merchandise, said receptacle being open at the top, an appliance removably arranged on the top of the receptacle, said appliance having elevating means operable to elevate the merchandise within the receptacle, said means including a member on which the merchandise rests and which carries it upwardly, cooperative gears and ratchets, and a rack element which may be moved upwardly to operate said gears to elevate said member to various positions, and then be moved downwardly to a normal down position by reason of said ratchets; and means cooperating with the elevating means to retain said member in the elevated positions.

JAMES ARTHUR BALDWIN. 

